Son of BatmanReview

Son of Batman was screened at WonderCon. The film will be released May 6th on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD, and via Digital Download on April 22.

Based on writer Grant Morrison and artist Andy Kubert's comics storyline "Batman and Son," Son of Batman -- the 20th DC Universe Animated Original Movie -- finds the Dark Knight (voiced by Jason O'Mara, who also voiced Batman in Justice League: War) discovering that he has a 10-year-old son by Talia Al Ghul (Morena Baccarin).

Damian Wayne (Stuart Allan) was conceived after a night of passion between the Daughter of the Demon and the Caped Crusader, who evidently carries everything in his utility belt except condoms. Damian idolizes his grandfather, Ra's Al Ghul (voiced by Breaking Bad’s Gus Fring himself, Giancarlo Esposito). As the heir to Ra's empire, Damian has been trained his entire young life by the League of Assassins, making him as deadly as he is brilliant.

After Ra's is betrayed and his compound attacked, Talia brings Damian to Gotham City to meet and stay with his father while she seeks out those responsible for the assault. This leads to the egotistical little upstart managing to get on the nerves of both his father and Alfred Pennyworth (David McCallum), as well as earning the mockery of Nightwing (Sean Maher, the film's other Firefly alum besides Baccarin).

Damian is also determined to find out who attacked his grandfather, a single-mindedness not dissimilar to his father's. Donning Dick Grayson's old Robin costume, Damian joins Batman in hunting down Slade "Deathstroke" Wilson (Thomas Gibson), a former pupil of Ra's out to bring the League of Assassins under his control.

Son of Batman really just borrows the basics of the four-issue "Batman & Son" storyline – don’t worry, the ninja Man-bats are still in there -- while dropping many of the other elements that appeared during Damian’s early storylines. Here's what you will NOT find in the film that were in the comics: Bruce taking a vacation, Tim Drake getting beaten up by Damian, Jezebel Jet, the three ghosts of Batman, The Black Casebook, future Damian as Batman, or England's Knight and the Club of Heroes.

The movie’s content is quite adult at times, including hookers, drug detox, and less than kid-friendly language such as when Deathstroke refers to Batman as Talia's "sperm donor". But it’s the sheer amount of bloodletting that’s stunning here. The well-executed fight scenes are often brutal, with Damian being subjected to grievous injuries at the hands of Deathstroke (not that Damian doesn't get a few good hits in himself). As mature as this content is, though, it gives the film a dramatic heft to nicely off-set its fair share of dry wit.

Damian’s not as much of an a-hole here as he was in the comics, but he's still quite the tactless little jerk. Like in the comics, his attitude is what generates much of the humor. Allan really captures Damian's intellect and superiority complex. The relationship between Damian and Bruce is both combative and funny as Batman contends with the apple not falling far from the tree.

As for the rest of the voice cast, Esposito is cool as Ra's Al Ghul, but he's simply not in it that much, while McCallum is wonderfully droll as Alfred. Maher is fun as Nightwing, while O’Mara is solid in his second turn as the Dark Knight.

The weakest link in the voice cast is Baccarin as Talia, who never sounds quite as dialed into her character as everyone else does theirs. Talia is also the weakest of the film’s many characters, especially once she’s reduced to being a damsel-in-distress in the third act.

Those gripes aside, there’s still much to enjoy about this latest DC animated entry.

Stuart Allan voices Damian Wayne in Son of Batman.

Jason O'Mara voices Bruce Wayne and David McCallum voices Alfred in Son of Batman.

Jason O'Mara voices Batman for the second time in a DC animated feature.

Son of Batman

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The Verdict

Son of Batman, the 20th DC Universe Animated Original Movie, makes considerable alterations to the original Grant Morrison comic book tale, but still delivers plenty of entertainment value for Bat-fans.